Defining AI security
AI security encompasses the policies, controls, and technologies that protect enterprise AI systems from attack, prevent AI tools from enabling data loss, and ensure AI-assisted decisions meet governance and compliance requirements. It is distinct from traditional cybersecurity in its attack surfaces, threat models, and the regulatory frameworks that apply to it.
The three domains of enterprise AI security
Protecting AI systems from attack — prompt injection, model extraction, adversarial inputs. Protecting data that flows through AI systems — DLP for prompts and responses, audit trails, access controls. And governing AI use across the organization — acceptable use policies, risk assessment processes, compliance attestation. A complete AI security program covers all three.
How AI security differs from traditional cybersecurity
Traditional cybersecurity protects defined systems with known inputs and outputs. AI systems have probabilistic behaviors, natural language interfaces, and outputs that are difficult to validate automatically. The attack surface is wherever natural language is accepted. The threat model includes adversaries who interact with the system through legitimate interfaces.
The regulatory landscape
Enterprise AI security sits at the intersection of multiple regulatory frameworks: the EU AI Act (risk classification and compliance requirements), GDPR and CCPA (data protection in AI systems), HIPAA (AI use in healthcare settings), financial services regulations (AI in credit and fraud decisions), and sector-specific guidance from regulators including the SEC, OCC, and FDA.
Building your AI security program
Start with visibility — you cannot secure what you cannot see. Add controls in order of risk: DLP for data protection, access controls for tool governance, prompt security for attack surface reduction. Then build the governance layer: policies, processes, and the committee structure to maintain them. Measure progress with the same rigor you apply to your traditional security program.